Apparatus for the production of metallic magnesium



- yatente' Nov. 1.4, 19

- APPARATU S FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MIE'IAILIC MAGNESIUM MacNeil EdwardHerteliHaley, Ontario, Canada,

asslgnor to .Dominion Magnesium Limited,

Toronto, Ontario, Canada, a corporation of tari Application October 2,-194:, Serial N... 504,694 In Canada September 16, 1943 This inventionrelates to apparatus for the production or metallic magnesium by thethermal reduction of magnesia containing material in metal retorismnd is.particularlyriirected to the construction of an orifice plate or heatshield located between the reducing portion and the condensing portionof the retort.

V In thismethod of producing metallic magnesium a removable sleeve isprovided within the condenser zone of the retort to receive thecondensed metal and with which the metal is removed from the retort. Thesubsequent; removal of the sleeve from the retort is made dim cult ifmetal vapours are permitted to escape from the reducing portion of theretort behind the sleeve .and condense there. Furthermore when themagnesium is permitted to condense in a thin coating -ad.iacent the-inner -end -of the sleeve the removal of the metal is rendered moredifiicult and the thin portion of the deposit tends to break upintoloose pieces which are objectional for remelting purposes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a construction wherebysuch difilculties may be overcome.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of a retort with theorifice plate partially in elevation in position therein, and

Figure 2 is a plan view of the orifice plate.

In the apparatus as disclosedin the drawing l is a metal retorthorizontally located in a iumace 2 and having a. reducing portion 3 anda condensing portion 4. A removable sleeve 5. having squared ends. islocated within the condenser zone 4. The outer end of the retort isclosed by a cover 6 and is provided with an outlet 1, through whichreduced pressure is created within the retort, and cooling means 8. Theouter end of the sleeve is closed. by a cover 9 having an ,-orifice ltherein and carrying a plate II in the condenser zone is located anorifice plate 13 adapted to rest snugly against the wall of the retort.In -the form shown the plate is bevelled at its periphery to rest on theshoulder I l. The plate is perforated as at it to permit passage of v 4Claims, (Cl. 268-19) vapours and-is provided with a lug it. Anupstanding flange l1 and a seat It is provided to receive the innersquared end of the sleeve. This arrangement prevents magnesium vapoursfrom escaping behind the'sleeve and avoids subsequentadherence of thesleeve to the retort wall. The fiarme ll being hot keeps the condensatel2 away from the'squared end of the sleeve which contacts the seat It,and builds up the inner end of the deposit i2. so that the deposit maybe removed, as by an hydraulic press, with minimum release of loosepieces of magnesium metal. This results in economy and efliciencyinremelting the metal produced. 4

In operation, it will be observed that, the orifice plate althoughlocated substantially without the hot portion of the furnace isrelatively hot owing to contact of the hot vapours. Thus the flange l1extending into contact with the inner portion of the sleeve maintainsthis portion of the sleeve at a temperature at which the magnesiumvapours do not condense. Accordingly the condensation of the vapours isremoved from the immediate innervendof the sleeve and its con- 5 tactwith the orifice plate.

The ends of the condenser sleeve being squared ,rather than bevelled donot become so readily distorted in handling. The inner end thus restssnugly on the seat It and this further insures against undesired escapeof the vapours.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the production of metallic magnesium by thermalreduction of magnesia containing material comprising a metallic retorthaving a reducing portion and a condensing portion, a removable sleevewithin the condensing portion and an orifice plate within the retortbetween the reducing portion and the condense ing portion, the orificeplate constituting a seat for the inner end of the sleeve and adapted toprevent the condensation of magnesium vapours in the area of said seat.

magnesium by thermal reduction of magnesia containing materialcomprising a metallic retort having a reducing portion and a condensingportion, a removable sleeve within the condensing portion and aperforated orifice plate, constituts ing a seat for the sleeve and aseal to prevent 5 escape of vapours behind the sleeve, located betweenthe reducing portion and the condensing portion 0! the retort, a flangeon said plate adjacent its periphery, a shoulder extending beyond laidflange to contact the retort wall and the in inner end of the sleevebeing seated on said shoulder and contacting said flange. c

4. An orifice plate for a metallic retort for the l-production ormetallic magnesium comprising a plate having perforations therein forthe passage of vapours, a flange adjacent the periphery of the plate andextending perpendicularly therefrom and a shoulder between said flangeand the periphery of the plate.

- MacNEIL EDWARD HERTEL.

